Description of an ultrasound-guided rectus sheath block injection technique and the spread of dye in calf cadavers

ObjectivesTo describe an ultrasound-guided rectus sheath (RS) block technique in calves with injections of methylene blue and assess the extent of injectate spread and nerve staining in calf cadavers.Study designProspective, experimental, blinded cadaveric study.AnimalsA total of 16 calf cadavers weighing 30.7 ± 7.1 kg.MethodsUsing an ultrasound-guided, in-plane technique, each cadaver was injected with both a low (LV; 0.25 mL kg^–1) and high (HV; 0.5 mL kg^–1) volume of methylene blue dye. Volumes were randomly assigned to the left or right hemiabdomen. Ultrasound imaging was scored based on landmarks and needle visualization, and duration to perform injections were assessed. Dissections were performed immediately after injections. Staining of ventral branches of spinal nerves and the extent of dye spread were recorded by an anatomist unaware of treatment allocation.ResultsThe number of nerves stained in treatments LV and HV were 2.3 ± 1.7 and 4.4 ± 1.3, respectively (p = 0.0001). Branches of thoracic nerves T7–13 and lumbar nerves L1–2 were completely stained 6.3%, 6.3%, 31.3%, 62.5%, 56.3%, 37.5%, 31.3%, 6.3% and 0%, respectively, in treatment LV and 0%, 12.5%, 50%, 93.8%, 100%, 93.8%, 62.5%, 25% and 6.3%, respectively, in treatment HV. Ultrasound imaging was scored excellent in most cadavers and needle visualization deemed excellent in all injections. The mean duration to perform RS injections in both treatments was 2 (range, 1–6) minutes.Conclusions and clinical relevanceNerve staining results from treatment HV suggest that this RS injection technique could be clinically useful in ventral midline surgical procedures, including umbilical procedures, in calves. This study supports future clinical trials in calves.     

Variation in Shoot Anatomy and Rooting Behaviour of Stem Cuttings in Relation to Age of Donor Plants in Teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.)

Shoot anatomical features viz., number of vessel elements, width and length of vessel and fibre elements were studied in relation to juvenility/maturity of teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.). The findings show significant differences in these features, which indicates that variation in shoot anatomy can be used as a reliable indicator of juvenility/maturity in teak. The effect of age of donor plants and application of auxins on adventitious root formation in single noded leafy stem cuttings of teak was also investigated. Aging of donor trees suppressed rooting and sprouting of cuttings, but increased callus formation at the base of cuttings. Per cent rooting and per cent sprouting in cuttings decreased as age of donor plants increased from 2-months to 15-years and up to 30-years. IBA treatment promoted per cent rooting as well as per cent sprouting, NAA promoted only rooting and it suppressed sprouting. The effect of auxin treatment on rooting and sprouting of teak stem cuttings varied with the age of donor plants. Auxin and its concentration, which suppressed rooting and sprouting in cuttings of younger donor plants, actually promoted rooting when cuttings were taken from more mature donor plants. It appears that the auxin requirement for causing and promoting rooting in teak cuttings increased with increasing age of donor plants. The higher auxin requirement for causing and promoting rooting in cuttings of older trees may be due to a decrease in the content on endogenous auxins or decreased sensitivity of aging tissues to rooting promoters and /or accumulation of inhibitory substances which inhibit rooting.     

Anatomical variations in wood among four native species of Leguminosae grown in arid areas of China

Morphological features and anatomical variations are described and illustrated in detail for four native species of Legumi-nosae grown in arid sandy regions in China, which are Hedysarum scoparium Fisch.et Mey., Caragana korshiskii Kom., Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. and Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (Maxim. ex Kom.) Cheng f. All species showed similar morphological features: distinct growth ring boundaries, ring to semi-ring-porosity, simple perforation plates, alternate intervessel pitting, nonseptate fibers, para...     

Ecological Wood Adaptation and Horizontal Variations of Vessel Element and Fibre Length of Calligonum mongolicum

INTRODUCTION The larger genus in Polygonaceae is Calligonum, which includes about 100 species of shrubs that grow in central Asia. It is well suited to arid climates with drought resistance, and grows more on clay, sandy and gravel grounds. These plants are often cultivated as ornamentals and a stabilizer of mobile sand dunes. There was published information on the wood anatomy of all the examined genera in Polygonaceae (Ma 1994), but the selected species have not yet been described. Ad…     

白蛾周氏啮小蜂雌性成虫内部生殖系统的解剖研究

解剖发现，白蛾周氏啮小蜂Ｃｈｏｕｉｏｉａ ｃｕｎｅａ Ｙａｎｇ的雌性成虫具一对卵巢，每个卵巢的卵巢管数目为６－１０根，且明时左右卵巢管的数目不等：一个卵巢管中的卵数为８－３４粒，卵巢内总含卵数可达６８０粒，实际平均为２７０．５粒，证明了该种寄生蜂具有较大的繁殖潜力。     

柳树愈伤组织形态和细胞学观察

以柳树叶片为材料,接种在诱导培养基上诱导愈伤组织发生,采用石蜡切片法对愈伤组织的内部细胞结构进行观察。结果表明,叶片组织脱分化的起始部位在微管束鞘;胚性细胞多发生在所形成的愈伤组织的表层或近表层,和非胚性细胞在形态和细胞学上有很大差别,胚性细胞核大、质浓,与周围细胞存在生理隔离;多细胞原胚以平周分裂为主,并由此表现出有序生长;胚性细胞内含有丰富的淀粉粒,随细胞的分裂和分化逐渐减少;愈伤组织有根产生。     

5个油茶优良无性系光合及叶片解剖特征比较分析

为给进一步筛选高光效、优良的油茶无性系提供参考依据,选择5个油茶优良无性系(‘湘林’系列XL210、XL82、XL190、XL81、XL14)9年生植株,于2013年7月观测了其光合参数及叶片解剖特征。结果表明:净光合速率(Pn)的日变化曲线,XL14呈"单峰型",其他无性系均为"双峰型",不同无性系峰值出现的时间及峰值大小不完全相同,各无性系的Pn日均值从大到小依次为XL14XL81XL82XL210XL190,各无性系的单位面积产油量均值都随Pn值的增大而增大,Pn与叶绿素a、叶绿素(a+b)和叶绿素a/b之间均存在显著的正相关关系;5个无性系的叶片解剖特征值之间差异明显,栅栏组织/叶片厚度、栅栏组织/海绵组织的比值与Pn及单位面积产油量间均呈显著正相关。     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ABDOMINAL ESOPHAGUS AND CARDIA IN DOGS

Differential diagnoses for regurgitation and vomiting in dogs include diseases of the gastroesophageal junction. The purpose of this cross‐sectional study was to describe ultrasonographic characteristics of the abdominal esophagus and gastric cardia in normal dogs and dogs with clinical disease involving this region. A total of 126 dogs with no clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease and six dogs with clinical diseases involving the gastroesophageal junction were included. For seven euthanized dogs, ultrasonographic features were also compared with gross pathology and histopathology. Cardial and abdominal esophageal wall thicknesses were measured ultrasonographically for all normal dogs and effects of weight, sex, age, and stomach filling were tested. Five layers could be identified in normal esophageal and cardial walls. The inner esophageal layer was echogenic, corresponding to the cornified mucosa and glandular portion of the submucosa. The cardia was characterized by a thick muscularis, and a transitional zone between echogenic esophageal and hypoechoic gastric mucosal layers. Mean (±SD) cardial wall thicknesses for normal dogs were 7.6 mm (±1.6), 9.7 mm (±1.8), 10.8 mm (±1.6), 13.3 mm (±2.5) for dogs in the <10 kg, 10–19.9 kg, 20–29.9 kg and ≥30 kg weight groups, respectively. Mean (±SD) esophageal wall thicknesses were: 4.1 mm (±0.6), 5.1 mm (±1.3), 5.6 mm (±1), and 6.4 mm (±1.1) for the same weight groups, respectively. Measurements of wall thickness were significantly correlated with dog weight group. Ultrasonography assisted diagnosis in all six clinically affected dogs. Findings supported the use of transabdominal ultrasonography as a diagnostic test for dogs with suspected gastroesophageal disease.